Expert Rural Panellist announced

The first expert panellist for the Rural Hope Ministry and Mission Day has been announced and it is the Director for the 'Growing in God in the Countryside' project.

The Ven Canon Sally Gaze, who will be working to develop church life in rural communities, was appointed as the new Archdeacon for Rural Mission in the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich earlier this year.

Sally, who will be working to develop church life in rural communities is having her work with the Growing in God in the Countryside project, supported by national church funding.

She will join Revd Dr Mark Betson, the National Rural Officer, who has been announced as the keynote speaker at the event on 14 September at Kingston Maurward College, near Dorchester.

Sally’s passion has been rural mission for many years, and this new role focusses on helping people to experience God’s love in rural Suffolk in all sorts of ways, from creative worship to combatting isolation. Sally was made a Residentiary Canon of St Edmundsbury Cathedral on 10 February 2019.

Sally was appointed Dean for Rural Mission Consultancy in the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich in 2017, having been Team Rector in the Tas Valley Team Ministry in Norfolk, Fresh Expressions Facilitator and Hon Canon of Norwich Cathedral. Sally is 49, married to Chris and they have two children Matthew, 19, and Katie, nine.

The Revd Dr Mark Betson, who took up his post last month, is tasked with focussing and developing the Church’s support for the rural church and rural communities.

The Diocesan Rural Ministry and Mission Day, with its theme of ‘Strengthening Collaboration’, will take place will not only feature a keynote address and a panel of guest speakers, but there will be workshops on rural ministry and mission topics and taster sessions for the Rural Hope training courses THRIVE.

The day is open to up to three attendees (lay and ordained) from rural benefices.